Brick-machine



(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 1.

I. GULLEN.

BRICK MACHINE.

N4 PETEna Phumumagnpmn wmhingran. llc

(No Model.)

. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

l I. ,GULLEN- BRICK MACHINE.

. No. 276,228. Patented Apr.l24, 1883.

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N. FIL-mls mmumnsnpm, wmangcm u. c,

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL CULLEN, OF PITTSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA.

- SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent No. 276,228, dated April24., 1883.

Application filed April 8, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,. ISRAEL GULLEN, ot' Pittsburg, in the countyofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Brick-Machines; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and ro use the same. Y

My invention relates toan improvement in brick-machines, the object ofthe same being to provide a machine for tempering the clay,

. pressingthe tempered clay into suitable molds,

and finally cutting the molded clay` into the proper size to formbricks; and with these ends in view my invention consists, in atempering-mill provided with one or more discharging-apertures for clay,of a vertically-revolvin g shaft provided with any suitable number oftempering arms or cutters, and one or more inclined pressers or feedersadapted to force the clay within suitable receivers preparatory tomolding.

My invention further consists, in a tempering-mill provided with one ormore discharging-apertures for clay and movable slides or cut-oft`s forclosing said apertures, of a vertical revolving shaft provided with anysuitable number of tempering arms or cutters, and one or more inclinedpressers or feeders adapted to force the clay into suitable receiverspreparatory to molding, and one or more vertically-movable stops adaptedto hold the clay while the inclined pressers or feeders force it intothe said receivers.

My invention further consists in the combination, with thetempering-mill and vertical shaft, the latter provided with suitablecutters and feeders, of clay-receivers situated below vthe saidtempering-mill and communicating therewith, movable cut-offs forshutting oli' communication between the saidtemperingmill and receivers,`and horizontal movable 45 .plungers for forcing the clay from the saidreceivers through the dies into the molds.

My invention further consists in the combination, with a` tempering-millhaving one or more discharge-apertures for the passage of 5o thetempered clay and one or more movable slides for covering saidapertures, of a vertically-rotating shaft having tempering# arms andcutters thereon, one or more clay-receivers, one or more horizon talplun gers for forcing the clay through a suitable shaping-die and out ofthe receiver, one or more vertically-movable yokes or bows, each havingcutting-wire thereon, and brick-molds and means for operating saidmolds.

My invention further consists, in a suitable 6o clay-receiver having ashaping-die secured to the outer end thereof, of an elastic packing in.-troduced between the said receiver andrdie.

My'invention further consists of a clay-receiver having a suitableshaping-die secured on the outer end thereof, and a yoke having acutting-wire secured thereto, the latter being adapted to move on andover the outer face of the said die.

My invention further consists in certain de- 7o tails of constructionandcombinations of parts, as will bemore fully described.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is .a longitudinal verticallsectional view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse ver- 7 5tical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional view through the lines m x of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a similar viewthrough the lines y y of Fig.'1, and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 aremodifications.` y 8o A represents the frame of the machine, and B themill for tempering the clay.` This mill B is provided centrally with anopening for the passage of the main or vertical shaft C, and with thetwo apertures, a a, for the passage of the tempered clay into thereceiver D, situated below the tempering-mill. These apertures a a inthe bottom of the mill Bare partly or entirely opened or closed, to suitthe existing circumstances, by the movable slides or cut- 9o offs E,which latter are pivotally secured toand operated by the handles E',secured on the outside of the frame A. The horizontallyrevolving shaft Gis suitablyjournaled in the frame A, andprovided outside of the mill Bwith any 9 5 suitable gearing, by which motion can be imparted thereto,and inside the mill with the tempering-arms F and the pressers orfeeders G. rIhe tempering-arms F are secured to the shaft in anysuitable manner, and extend outroo ward at right angles therefrom, andare provided with the vertical cutters b, which operate to thoroughlytemper the clay. i

Below the temperingarms F, and secured to the shaft@` in any suitablemanner, are the outwardly-extending arms, provided on their o'uterextremity with the inclined pressers or feedersG, which latter areadapted, when rotated by the shaft C, to vpass directly over theapertures a a and force the clay therein.

EI are vertically-movable slides, adapted to project up through thebottom of the tempering-mill and hold the clay while the inclinedpressers or feeders force it downward into the receivers D. These slidesH can be of any suitable width, and arevsecured in suitable guides andheld up in position by the weights c,which latter are connected theretoby the straps c; after the latter passes over the roller c2. Thetendency of the weights c is to constantly hold the slides up to theirhighest point, while the tendency is overcome by the inclined pressersor feeders G, which latter, as they pass over the said slides, forcethem downward. After the pressers or feeders have passed over the slidesH the said slides are caused by the weights to rise in position for thenext presser or feeder.

D are the clay-receptacles, situated on oppo-V site sides of themachine, directly under the .apertures a a. These receptacles are openon the inner ends for the horizontal plungers I,

` which latter are secured to opposite sides of 30.

the yoke or ringJ. 'Ihis yoke or ring, together with the said plungersl,are reciprocated backward and forward by means of the cam K, secured tothe shaft C. The constructions of this ring or yoke J and the cam K aresuch that when the clay has been pressed through the die into the moldsL theplungeris allowed a slight backward movement, which is caused bythe expansion of the clay before-the bricks have been cut by the wires.The outer ends of these clay receptacles or receivers are provided withthe forming or cutting dies, the vertical bars d of which are providedwith internal and external bevel-edges for cutting and separating theclay into masses of a length and width slightly less than the samedimensions of the brick are when fully pressed. The object of makingthese passages slightly less than the size of the brick is to enable theclay to pass into the molds without rubbing the sand off the ends andbottoms thereof. As these plungers I approach the molds L the clay iscompactly pressed therein and completely fills the molds without rubbingod' the sand, as would be the case were the clay forced into the moldsiu masses of the same dimension therewith. Between these dies M and theouter end of the clay-receivers D, I interpose a suitable elasticpacking adapted to ease the outward pressure on the dies M should hardforeign substance get between the'plunger and die.

O is a second ring or yoke, situated below the ring or yoke J andsupported in the bearings Z. This yoke, together with the cam oreccentric P, is adapted to operate the cuttingwire mechanism andthemechanism for pressing and holding the molds up against the dies.

This yoke is supported in the boxes l,and is provided-on the oppositesides .of itsupper surface with the'` brackets f, by means of which theL-shaped arms are pivot-ally secured to the said yokes.V These L-shapedarms Q pass through the sides of the frame, and are supported on theoutside by the. pulleys g, journaled in the depending hangers h,whichlatter are secured in any suitable manner to the framing A. Theverticalportion of these L-shaped arms are each provided with suitableguides, in which the holders B move, and with a setscrew, i, for movingsaid holders to or from the vertical portions of the L-shaped arms, f'ora purpose to be hereinafter described.

The outer ends of the horizontal portion of the vertical arms areprovided on their under surfaces with enlargements S, adapted to elevatethe holder R when the arm Q and the ring or yoke O are moved inward. Theunder side ofthe ring oryoke is also Vprovided on opposite sides withthe brackets f', which latter are connected to the bell-crank levers Tthrough the intervention of the links j. These bell-crank levers arecentrally pivoted to the beam k, and are connected at their outer endsby links U to the cutting-wire yokes V. These yokes can be of anydesired width, and provided on their inner side faces withthelongitudiual grooves fv, in which the ends of these cutting-dies Mrest and guide the yoke during the movement. The cutting-wires W arestretched centrally across the bows or yokes, and are rigidly secured atone end thereto, while the opposite or free end thereof is wound on thedrum m,journaled in the extensions m. These drums or the shafts carryingthem are each provided on the outside of the extensions m with theratchet-wheel m2, with which the pawls m3 are adapted to engage and holdythe wire under any degree of tension. By means of these pawls andratchets the slack can be taken up and the wire caused always to make `aclean out in severing the bricks.

By securing the yokes V to the cutting-dies, as before described, thewire W is causedto bear directly on the outer face of the said dies atevery up and down stroke and remove all particles of clay still adheringthereto, and if, for any cause whatever, the cutting-dies are pressedoutward, the yoke, being secured thereto, is also moved outward the samedistance, and hence at no time changes its relation to the cutting-die.

X are guides situatedimmediately under the cutting-dies M, for thereception of the brickmolds L. These guides X are provided with the sideflanges, n, adapted tofhold the molds in position, and prevent them frommoving longitudinally. These molds are made like ordinary molds, areprovided with as many recesses or cavities as the cutting-dies haveapertures, and they are adapted, when placed in position on theguidesand held up against the cutting-dies M by the holders R, to exactlyregister with the apertures in the said cuttingdies. These molds L areremovable, and when IOO IIO

with them the mold and firmly hold it against the cutting-dies while theclay is being pressed therein.

The operation of my machine is as follows: Clay, having been previouslymoistened with Water, is placed in the tempering-mill B. The

shat't C, being turned by any suitable means,

will revolve the tempering-arms, which will thoroughly temper the clay.As both sides of the machine are provided with the same mechanisni andadapted to operate alike, only alternately, it willpbe necessary todescribe the operation of one side only. After the slide is withdrawnfrom over the aperture the clay is forced therein by the presser orfeeder when A the plunger D is at theback end of the clayreceptacle.Arsanded mold is placedon the guides in the position `before described,and the cam K and `the yoke J-simultaneously canse the cutting-wiretoascend to the'top of the cutting-dies and the holders R to rise upwardand inward, and finally hold the mold against theface of thecutting-die. When the parts are in position, the cam P operates on theyoke J, which forces the plunger O inward, and causes the clay to-passthrough the -cutting-dies `into the molds. Just before the holder It andcutting-wire Ware caused to descend, the cam K leaves the yoke J, whichlatter, together with the plunger I, is free to be moved inward by theexpansive action of the clay in the receptacle. While the plunger I isstill in position last referred to, or-while it is forced inward, thecam P and ring or yoke O operate simultaneously on` the cutting-wire andholder, which severs the clay in the mold from that contained in thereceptacle. The mold, with the bricks therein, is then removed by ano-bearer and another substituted in its stead, and the operationrepeated.

The operation of the opposite side of the machine is exactly similar tothe side described;

but the movement of the parts on the opposite sides is in the oppositedirection, so that when one mold is being placed on the machine on oneside aiilled mold is being taken ott' on the other. By means of thesetascrew i, the

holders R are moved to or from the upright portion of the'arm Q, to moresecurely hold the molds L in close contact with the cuttingdies M.

In Fig.6, Ihave shown a modified form ofconstruction cfa portion of theoperating mechanism. In this construotion-the parts composing theframeare made of castmetahwhich renders the frame strong and durable, with acomparatively small increase of weight `over the original design. Therings or yokes J (shown in Fig. 7) can also be made of cast metal, if desired, and consist of the t-worings secured in position as shown'in Fig.6, and provided with the friction-rollers s,`"with which thecamsK andPengage to operate the plun gers and the cutting and-molding mechanismbefore described.

Fig. 8 shows a detached modification View of the dies and cuttin`g-wirewith its koperatingbow. This bow is shaped as shown, and is providedwith means for tightening the wire W, whichlatter issituated in thispresent instance at the upper end of the bowinste'ad of the middle ofthe yoke, as shown in the previous construction. This bow is alsoadapted to move in grooves in `the side Vof the die, or vice versa,``similar to the construction shown in Fig. 4. AThe downwardly-projecting,arm t of Fig. 8 is adapted to be secured to the L-shaped arm T, andoperate precisely like the previous con-l struction; but,if so desired,my improved machine can be composed principallycf wood; but those partswhich are exposed toconstant wear can be made of metal, or wood 'coveredwith metal, as desired. The device is'adapted to be placed on runners orwheels, whichenables it to be transported from place to place, iscomposed of few parts, and requires but few hands to operate it, andisadapted torun at a high rate of speed, and to turn out daily a largenumber of bricks regular in shape and at a comparatively smallontlay. .Y

It is evident that numerous changes in the construction of the differentpartis might be resorted to without departing from` the spirit of myinvention; and hence I would have it understood that I do not limitmyself to the exact construction of parts shown and described, butconsider myself fat liberty to make such changes as fairly fall withinthe spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim Vas new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is f ICO ]. In a brick-machine, thecombination, with a tempering-mill provided with one or moredischarging-apertures for clay and `movable slides or cut-offs forclosing said apertures,'of a vertically-revolvin g shaft provided withany suitable number of tempering-.arms or cutters, and one or moreinclined pressers or feeders adapted-to force the clay into suitablereceivers preparatory to molding, and one or more vertically-movablestops adapted to hold the clay while the inclined pressers or feedersforce it into the said receivers, substantially as set forth; d

2. In a brick-machine,the combination, with a clay-receiver having ashaping-die secured to one end, of an elastic packing introduced betweenthe said receiver and die, substantially as set forth.

3. In abrick-machine, the combination, with the tempering-,mill andreceivingfchafmber having cutting-dies secured to the outer end, of a;yoke carrying a cutting-wire, the said yoke loosely connected to thesidesof the cuttingdie and adapted toy move the said cuttingwire overthe face of the said cutting-die, subi stantially as set forth.

IIO

IIS

IZO

4. In a brick-machine, the combination, with the tempering-mill havingapertures for the passage of the clay, and a rotating shaft providedWith presser or feeder arms, of vertical- 5 ly-novable slides adapted tohold the clay while the presser-arms force it through the apertures,substantially as set forth.

5. In a brick-machine, thecombination, with the L-shaped arm providedwith any suitable xo holder for holding the mold in position, of the 7.In a brick-machine, the combination, with the mill B, receiver D, anddies M, of'the shaft C, cam I), yoke O, arm Q, holder R, mold L,bell-crank T, yoke J, and WireW, substantially as set forth. zo

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses. l

ISRAEL GULLEN.

Witnesses:

G. W. RANKIN, J AMES GULLEN.

